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The American Heart Association has issued a Scientific Advisory that severely obese surgical patients are at higher risk for heart problems, wound infections, longer hospital stays and other complications. The group said that physicians should conduct a complete examination of such patients and that patients should adopt lifestyle changes to improve their health before having surgery.

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President Barack Obama pledged to sign into law a bill giving the FDA regulatory authority over the tobacco industry. The bill bans tobacco-related sponsorships of sports and entertainment events and requires cigarette packs to carry health warnings that cover 50% of their front and back.

A study found psoriasis patients had a 78% higher incidence of heart disease, a 70% higher incidence of stroke and a 98% higher incidence of peripheral arterial disease. The death rate for psoriasis patients was 86% higher than among people who didn't have the disease.

The American Medical Association has adopted a new policy that states scientific studies don't back up claims made about anti-aging hormones such as HGH, DHEA and testosterone. The policy also found long-term use of these hormones presents more risks, including tissue swelling and diabetes, than benefits.

The FDA said children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should continue taking medications for their condition because there is no sufficient evidence that the drugs cause sudden death. The warning follows a study partly funded by the agency that cites 10 cases of sudden death in the patient group taking stimulants.

A surprise inspection of 42 Veterans Affairs centers across the U.S. last month found that only 43% have standard operating guidelines and appropriately trained staff for endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies. A spokeswoman for the agency said the VA is "taking aggressive action to fix this problem quickly and effectively."